Animal-trap.



H. H. FREEMAN.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION IILED FEB. 18, 1911.

Patnted Sept.26, 1911.

Witnesses.

A Horn e y.

' UNI-TED .STAl 1 E PATENT OFFICE. 7

HERBERT HAWLEY FREEMAN, ONEIDA, NEW! YORK, ASSIGNOB: T0 ONEIDA COM-MUNITY, LIMITED, .QF ONEIDA, NEW YORK. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.-

- ANIMAL-TRAP..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1911.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Serial No. 609,397.

nection with the accolnpanyiup drawings,

a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relatesto certain detail improvements in animal traps.and refers more particularly to the means for allowing-one of the jawsto lie flat upon the ground or supporting surface.

l-lcret-ofore in the class of traps shown in the drawingsit has beenfound that when the trap is set the jaw opposite the one which isengaged by the detent assumes a partially raised position, owing to thetension of the spring upon one end ofthc jaws, so that the animal canget its nose or paw under such jaw and thereby defeat the purposeintended. My purpose is, therefore, to obviate this oh jet-lion and tothat end my invention consists in the several new and novel features ofconstruction and operation hereinafter described and specifically setforth in the claim hereunto annexed.

It is eonstrurted as follows, reference being had to the aceon'ipanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a trap embodying myfeatures, showing the spring turned at an angle to the line of the jaws.Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line X X inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the position which the jawswould assume with the spring in its normal position at right angles tothe adjacent ends of the jaws. Fig. 5 is a top View of one end of theupper leaf of the spring. Fig. 6 is an edo'e view thereof.

Similar litters of reference indicate corresponding partsin all thedrawings.

The'trap is formed of the usual base --1-, jaws -2-, having-pintlcspivoted in the upturned cars 3-- of the base 1 and the usual crossbar--4 for supporting the tripping pan --5- and detent --6 all in theordinary way, -7 is the usual retracting spring having apertures '.8 forreceiving the ears a 9011 one end of the base andthe jaws. Sm retractingspring 7 is constructed in the usual way, except that upon one side itis provided with a depression -9-. best shown in Fig. 5. \Vhen thespring -7-- is used without the depression the side of the springopposite of the detent -(i which engages the jaw, forces the jaw upwardnormally at about the angle shown in Fig. l, and it is then free to bethrown over by the nose of the animal so as to assume any position. evento the extent of being almost superimposed uponthe opposite jaw.

It will be observed that when the-spring .-7- is turned upon its axisthe part. of

the upper leaf toward the closed end of the spring comes intoengagement; with the lower edge of the jaw 2, thereby depressing theupper leaf suflieient to allow the opposite jaw to drop down to theposition shown in Fig. 3. sion --l) in the spring 7-- die tension wouldcause said spring 7 to return to its normal position, 1 have, therefore,placed the depression --9- in said sprin 7- so that when the jaw 2 comesinto engagement with it. it will hold it in the position shown in Fig.1, thereby allowing the opposite jaw to take the position abovespecitied.

It will he noted that-even without, the depression --9 the spring -7 maybe forced around to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but the tensionof the spring is so great that it may right itself: and engage the jawand force it to the position shown in Fig. 4, and that. the function ofthe depression- 9" is to hold the jaw and the spring in the positionshown in Fig. 1, there'- by allowing the free jaw to drop down andassume a position as low, at least, as theoppositejaw. which is held bythe dot ent.

and as shown in Fig- 3.

The essential feature of my invention,

therefore, consists in providing means for.

If there were no depres-' holding the spring at some angle other thfillla right angle to the adjacent ends of gh e" jaws, so as to allow thefree jaw to be manitained in the same J Z- What I claim is y In anani'n'ial lilap,. aframe having a base, jaws pivoted therein, a detentsuitably plants as the opposing.

mmlntm] am] a tripping: pan adapted to engzl'tc then-nth and arvtreu-lmg sprung sultnbfy mounted and adapted to engage the ning :11 :m:mg] to the :uhalccl'lt (a trap 15 set.

aws, having a depression for holding the In witness whereof I havehereunto set my hand on this 3rd day of February 1011.

HERB EM "AW [1]) 1' FREBM 1N.

Wil mosses;

S. S. Ewmnum, V. K. 11mm.

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